Abstract
Continuity of care is a major challenge for young people living with HIV, especially when transitioning from pediatric to adult care. A qualitative study was conducted in an attempt to explore and describe the transitions resulting from this change of care and to identify factors influencing this process. Seven young adults, HIV-infected since childhood, with a median age of 25 years, with more than 2 years of experience since transitioning to adult care, participated in this qualitative research. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Becoming an adult has depended upon a double change in perception: leaving the cocoon of the pediatric ward made them feel more adult, but entering the adult universe where the disease is more visible and the environment more "cold" and "unfamiliar" made them feel more vulnerable. This "clash of worlds" creates a transformation leading to adulthood, where a relation based on mutual trust remains fundamental for the continuity of care and for pursuing the youth's personal development in the social and affective spheres. Self-construction on various levels (identity, social, affective) while maintaining regular medical care is the challenge of youth transitioning to adult care. A specific nurse-based consultation could be a useful tool for helping young people through this difficult process.
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